The Dangote Trust Fund Micro Grant Scheme for Women kicked off yesterday in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The empowerment programme was held at the council’s secretariat in Festac Town with thousands of women smiling home with various sums of money.

The scheme was designed to enhance the income-generating capacity of the beneficiaries through seed grants of N10,000 and other accessories.

Commenting on the scheme, the Lagos State Government said: “We shall ensure that the micro-grant is administered to benefit the targeted disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our community, especially the widows and other special interest persons.

“The real essence of wealth is to improve the standard of living of people around us.

“True wealth is measured not by the property one acquires but by the ability to positively affect the society and lift up less privileged people.”

To the beneficiaries, the government said: “The seed grants you will receive have been provided to enable you engage in petty commercial activities and cottage businesses that will put food on the table for your families and not a largesse that should be spent frivolously.”

The scheme is implemented in partnership with the state government to make it all-inclusive.

The beneficiaries would be given Airtel mobile phones besides the N10,000.

It was learnt that payments would be made electronically via a mobile money platform and beneficiaries could redeem their cash immediately through PAGA, the payment solution.